Overview:
Our Backpacking Development Series builds the skills and confidence needed to backpack around the mountains and camp under the stars. Level 2 of the Backpacking Development Series provides a comprehensive, premium mountain experience with a flexible online curriculum, three 5-day excursions at Cameron Pass in Colorado’s rugged Rocky Mountains, and weekly personal coaching from our expert guides. The course emphasizes the opportunity to glean purpose, passion, and dedication from our time in the mountains. You will develop physical skills and knowledge, and simultaneously focus on building character, leadership, and purpose with camping and backpacking being the vehicles for this meaningful time immersed in nature. The mountain excursions include introspective emotional and adventuresome physical activity with abundant opportunities for desirable outcomes. By the end of this course you will have all the skills you need to plan and enjoy your own journeys in the wilderness.
The mountains are an exceptional classroom for personal transformation and lessons in leadership. Our Backpacking Development Series Level 2 will introduce you to fundamental backpacking and camping skills with flexible online lessons and provide opportunities to apply those skills during the mountain excursions with coaching from our expert guides. You will learn about navigation, the mountain environment, risk management, and teamwork skills needed to be safe and comfortable exploring the mountains. This program will give you the skills, experience, and assurance you need to safely and confidently lead the way on future backpacking trips and to open the door to many further mountain adventures and pursuits that will follow.
Details:
Learn fundamental backpacking, camping, and mountain safety skills from the comfort of your home with 2 months of online curriculum created to be flexible for your schedule and personal coaching from our expert guides. Plan and prepare to apply the skills you learn online during three mountain excursions in the Rocky Mountains with mentorship and coaching from our expert mountain guides.
Our Backpacking Development Series Level 2 includes online lessons you can complete at your convenience each week and weekly coaching with our expert guides. We know life can be hectic, so this portion of the program is flexible and designed to easily fit into your busy schedule. The online curriculum provides you with important foundational knowledge that will be applied on our mountain excursions. Weekly coaching calls will provide you with personalized feedback to help you reach your mountain goals and embrace a leadership role in your future mountain pursuits.
In addition to the online material and coaching the program includes three 5-day mountain excursions for a total of 15 guided field days. Enjoy the comfort of the beautiful new Colorado Mountain School Seven Utes Yurt situated in wild Cameron Pass during mountain excursions. Let us take care of all your food and meals during your stay! Each mountain excursion builds on the experience you gained from the past excursion, the material from your online lessons, and your personal goals.
Sample Itinerary:
Duration: 2 months of online course material; 3 excursions of 5 days and 4 nights, for a total of 15 days in the field
FIRST EXCURSION
Day One: Welcome to the Seven Utes Yurt at Cameron Pass in State Forest State Park. Learn about trip preparation and group travel techniques and go for an afternoon hike in State Forest State Park. Enjoy the comforts of the Yurt overnight with a hot, delicious meal from the kitchen and breathtaking views everywhere outside.
Day Two: Enjoy the backcountry and learn navigation techniques on a day hike in State Forest State Park. Return to the Seven Utes Yurt before camping equipment demos in the afternoon. Enjoy the amenities of the Yurt for another evening.
Day Three: Review camping principles before launching into the field for the first night of backcountry camping at the American Lakes.
Day Four: Learn more camping skills and enjoy day hikes and leisure time in the wilderness. Spend another night camping at the American Lakes.
Day Five: Transference. Return to the Colorado Mountain School Seven Utes Yurt to debrief the program. Depart from the Yurt in the afternoon.
Detailed Itinerary for August 1, 2022 Course
Meeting location:
Participants will meet at the Seven Utes Yurt on Cameron Pass, State Forest State Park in Colorado for the first and second mountain excursions. For the third mountain excursion, participants will meet at the Colorado Mountain School Lodge in Estes Park where cars may be left. Then a shuttle van will deliver participants to the Seven Utes Yurt at Cameron Pass. Participants will meet with the guide via Zoom for weekly coaching sessions. The online portion of the course will be available to you via logging on the Colorado Mountain School website.
Lodging:
Lodging at the new Colorado Mountain School Yurt in State Forest State Park at Cameron Pass is available for you and is included during parts of our 5-day and 4-night excursions. The 40 foot Yurt is spacious and comfortable with propane heat and a wood-burning stove for especially cold days. Enjoy beautiful mountain views and stargazing from the large deck. The Seven Utes Yurt is located directly off the road next to the Michigan River. There is plenty of parking and access to pristine hiking trails. The Yurt has a full kitchen with appliances, dishes, and utensils for all our cooking needs, 16 comfortable sleeping cots, and portable toilets nearby.
During mountain excursions you will also camp in a tent in State Forest State Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. 3-season tents and other basic camping equipment will be provided for all participants to use.
Lodging at the CMS Lodge in Estes Park is available for one night or more at the end of the final mountain excursion. Our Lodge is located at 341 Moraine Avenue in downtown Estes Park. Shuttles run from our doorstep to and from Denver International Airport. Visit Estes Park Shuttle for more information. Our Lodge carries historical significance as the first National Park Service headquarters for RMNP. Our heated bunkhouse is upstairs from our classroom and features 16 single beds in three rooms, as well as several bathrooms, hot showers, linens, a full kitchen, wifi, and a lounge with games and a ping-pong table. Spend your evening socializing, and enjoy waking up in the morning rested and relaxed. Located only blocks from downtown Estes Park, you can easily walk to almost any place in town.
All Upcoming Dates and Locations:
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